Support foe containers



Jan. 30, 1951 H. c. BOARDMAN Re 23,335

SUPPORT FOR CONTAINERS Original Filed June 30, 1944 Ressued Jan. 30,1951 SUPPORT FOR CONTAINERS "HarryCuBoardmarn Chicago, Ill., assignervto ChicafgLBridget Iron Company, acorporation of yIllinois Original No.2,523,274, dated September 26, 1950,

Serial No. v667,'l5`2,-l\/Iay 3', 1946,*whichis a division-of SerialNo;542,993,.Junef30, 1944. Application for .reissue vNovember 24, 195.0.,SerialNo.

7 claims. (o1. 24S-'146) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears inthe original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification;matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue Thisinvention relates to a support for a container, and relates particularlyto a support 'for a container having a substantially circular horizontalcross-section.

The invention is especially applicable in connection with sphericalcontainers or the like adapted to contain fluids under pressure; for eX-ample, spheres holding compressed gas. Sheet metal gas containers aresubject to considerable expansion and contraction due to thermal andpressure variations. Owing to this expansion and contraction, dinicultyhas been encountered in supporting the same.

The present improvement is designed to permit gas holding containers tobe tested under hydrostatic pressure while full of water. -The presentinvention also permits the gas holders to be used as water containers ifdesired. It is primarily intended for strengthening the container topermit hydrostatic testing.

The present invention provides an improved support for containers havinga substantially circular horizontal cross-section with the supportcomprising a skirt having substantially the shape of a frustum of a conewith the upper and larger end of the skirt being attached to thecontainer on a substantially horizontal circle below the equator and thelower and smaller end of the skirt being attached to a substantiallyhorizontal annular compression plate that is located below the point ofattachment of the skirt to the container. The upper edge of the skirt issubstantially tangent to the sphere.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a spherical container supported in accordance with theinvention; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detailed sectional elevation of aportion of the structure.

As shown in the drawings, the container comprises a sphere lill!supported by a skirt IEJI having the shape of a frustum of a cone. Theupper and larger end IIJI a of the skirt IDI is attached as by weldingto the container on a horizontal circle below the equator of thecontainer. At the point of attachment the skirt is substantially tangentto the container |08. The lower and smaller end Hllb of the skirt HJIrests upon and is attached to an annular plate |93. This plate, which isunder compression, is supported by a suitable foundation. As shown inFig. 2, the triangular z space between the frusto-conical skirt 10| andthe bottom |04 of the sphere It!! is hermetically sealed by a continuoussubstantially radial plate |05 welded to the shell at |06 and to theskirt at |01.

In assembling the structure the skirt is provided as a unit or singleplate, but openings are left thereon directly opposite the meridianseams of the container. The container is then welded through theseopenings. After welding the openings may be permanently closed with barinserts as indicated at |08 or by plates. The openings are notessential, however, but are used only for convenience.

In a container of this type access Vis likewise provided by an openingunder the foundation to the bottom of the container. In this way entrymay be accomplished for welding the radial plate |05 into position. Thisplate serves to prevent corrosion in the narrow area above the platewhere otherwise it would be diiicult to paint.

The skirt at its circle of attachment restricts somewhat the expansionand contraction of the container. As a result slight bulging orcontraction, as the case may be, will occur adjacent the circle ofattachment of the skirt. To minimize this effect the thickness of theskirt is made the least necessary for strength requirements so that theskirt also will expand and contract. The skirt is reinforced and held bythe use of a compression ring |03 `on the foundation.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No.542,993, led June 30, 1944, now Patent No. 2,417,053.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiment set out inthe accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be notlimited by any of the details of description unless otherwise specied,but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as shown inthe accompanying [drawings] claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a container having a substantially circularhorizontal cross-section, a support comprising a skirt havingsubstantially the shape of a frustum of a cone, the upper and larger endof the skirt being attached to the container on a substantiallyhorizontal circle below the equator, and a substantially horizontalannular compression plate below said point of attachment with the lowerand smaller end of the support skirt resting upon and being attached tosaid plate.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the skirt and thecontainer are united by a substantially radial sealing member to form ahermetically sealed chamber bounded by the skirt, the container, and thesealing member. s

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the skirt and thecontainer are united by easesy 3 a substantially radial ring to form ahermetically sealed chamber bounded by the skirt, the container, and thesealing member.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container is asphere.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the skirt issubstantially tangential to the container.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container is asphere and the skirt 10 is substantially tangential to the sphere.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container is asphere, the skirt is substantially tangential to the sphere, and thesphere and skirt are united by a substantially 15 radial plate to form ahermetically sealed chamber bounded only by the skirt, the sphere, andthe radial plate.

HARRY C. BOARDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,885,601 Horton Nov. 1, 19322,156,400 Pechstein May 2, 1939 2,313,823 Harrigan Mar. 16, 19432,363,992

Reiser Nov. 28, 1944

